Device for adjustably mounting packs of indicator cards or plates



Jan. 5, 1954 J. H. HOLLAND 2,664,557

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING PACKS OF INDICATOR CARDS OR PLATES Filed Sept. 25, 1950 24 F F ZZ? 29 20 I4 24 2 3 22 g INVENTOR.

Jess: i1. HOLLAND hZZWf/K Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING PACKS PLATES OF INDICATOR CARDS OR This invention relates to a device for adjustably mounting packs of indicator cards or plates. -More"speciflcally stated, this invention pertains to a combined containing and adjusting means for indicator plates arranged in packs, the adjusting means enabling the operator successively to shift the top plate of the pack to the bottom of the pack, thus exposing to view one plate after another of the pack until, if that is desired, the

indicating matter on each of the plates of the pack has been brought into view for whatever len th of time is desired.

The invention can be used in the above indicated manner in coniunction with packs of plates having various kinds of pictorial or reading matter inscribed upon them, but is more particularly intended for handling numeral bearing plates, whether of metal, plastic or cardboard, such as are used by grocers and merchants to price tag merchandise offered for sale. When thus used by grocers and merchants the invention relates to a composite or multiplex price tag which can be quickly and easily adjusted to announce change of prices relating to the tagged merchandise.

Devices hitherto provided for rearranging plates in pack formation have not been well adapted to handle packs of plates usable in price indicating tags. Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a price tag structure consisting of a plurality of adjacent packs of plates carrying price indicating numerals and wherein the plates of each pack are capable of being quickly and easily arranged to indicate values up to 100 cents and also larger amounts when the device is constructed to handle more than two packs of numeral bearing plates.

In producing this invention it has been necessary to solve difiicult problems relating to keeping the device down to so small and inexpensive to manufacture a structure as to be well adapted to use as a price tag, and at the same time to provide means to adjust the numeral bearing plates in accordance with price changes.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred, reduced to practice embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective illustrating a price tag structure embodying the invention. In this view one of the twin numeral bearing packs of plates is omitted so as to disclose underlying structure, and the slidable its extended position. 1

5 Claims. (CI. 40-79) Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 except that the channel shaped mounting member is omitted.

Fig. 3 is a front face View on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, one of the two packs of numeral bearing plates being omitted, the slidable, plate transferring members both being shown in the retracted position. Parts are sectioned to dis close interior structure.

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections taken, respectively, on line 4-4 and line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a reproduction of the right hand portion of Fig. 5 except that the plate shifting means is shown in the first part of its outward movement, instead of in the retracted position of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 shows the structure of Fig. 6 advanced to the middle part of the plate shifting operation and Fig. 8 shows said structure approaching the final part of the plate shifting operation. The left hand part of the device is broken away in these views in order to economize space.

Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective of the tray with one part omitted and another broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention therein shown includes a two-part box like tray comprising a substantially rectangular basal mounting plate In having twin flanges I I upstanding rightangularly from its opposite sides, each of said flanges terminating in an inwardly directed lip I2 which extends from end to end of the flange. Upon said base plate I0 is superimposed a floor plate I3 which is bent in such a manner as to provide its midlength portion with a; channel shaped rise I4 which isrectangular in cross section and which at each end terminates in a spaced relation to the inner edges of the aforesaid lips I2. Said rise It extends slightly above said lips I2 and is provided with end Walls I5 having each an outwardly directed basal flange I6. Said floor plate I3, together with its said flanges I5, spans the space between the aforesaid flanges I I of the base plate I0. As viewed in Figs. 5 to 8 said two part tray is open at each end except for the opposed, inwardly directed flanges I8 which aid in keeping in place the pack of plates 20.

In all the views, except Fig, 2, said pack 20 of number bearing cards or plates is shown in one compartment of the two part tray which has been described, it being understood that when. the device is in use, a like pack of plates will be contained in that space within thetray which is located at the opposite side of theaforesaid. rise I4. Twin, manually operable, reoiprocatory, transfer members 2| are provided repeatedly to shift the uppermost plate of each pack horizontally until it clears the remaining plates of the pack and thereupon drops down to slightly below the level of the lowest plate of its pack. Then, during restoration of said transfer member to its normal position, it engages the dropped down plate and forces it back under the remaining plates of the pack.

Said transfer member 2| may be described as having the shape of a rectangular box which is open at one side and is also open at its top except that it has twin, inwardly directed side flanges 22 carried by its side walls 23. Said side walls 23 upstand from a bottom plate 25 from which also upstands the doubled over outer end wall 25 of said transfer member. Said bottom plate 2 1 of the transfer member always loosely underlies more or less the aforesaid base plate ii) and its side walls 23 loosely telescopically embrace the side flanges l l of said base plate, while the inwardly directed flanges 22 of the transfer men ber slidably overlie the aforesaid flange lips 52; so that track means is provided having at each side a rail which guides the transfer member during its reciprocation toward and from a position wherein its side walls substantially completely embrace the side walls of the adjacent pack holding compartment of the aforesaid tray. Of the twin transfer members 25 shown in Fig. 1, the right hand member is shown in the retracted position and the left hand member in its extended position.

The preferred stop means for limiting the reciprocatory movement of the transfer member will now be described. Each side wall 223 of said member has through it a longitudinal slot 27 and with this slot cooperates a stop formed by an ear 28 outstruck from the adjacent side flange H of the base plate It. The two stop ears thus provided, by engaging the ends of the slots into which they proiect, limit the outward movements of the transfer member 2 l.

Structural details will now be described which enable said transfer member 2! and the structures adjacent to it to cooperate in repeatedly removing a number bearing plate from the top of the pack and then projecting it into an underlying relation to the lowest plate of the pack. To enable said transfer member to take hold of the uppermost plate, said member is provided with a shoulder forming ear 2!! in each of its inwardly directed stiffening top flanges 22, said ears being down-struck from the sheet metal, as well shown in Fig. 5, where one of them is shown ready to engage and move outwardly the uppermost plate 28a of the pack 26. Providing said shoulder forming ears in said flanges avoids the necessity of using additional parts to perform their function.

It is evident that, after the transfer member has conveyed said plate Zila to the clear space at the right of the pack (see Fig. 7) and allowed said plate to drop down to the bottom of said space, the remaining plates of the pack must be so positioned as to permit the dropped down plate to be moved back by the transfer member to an underlying relation to the undisturbed plates of the pack. With this end in view the floor plate 13 is provided with a plurality of upstruck rounded bosses 3| which underlie and support the pack 20, and said floor plate also has along its outer edge a downwardly inclined lip 32 to aid in guiding the dropped down plate back under the pack 28.

In order slightly to support the dropped down plate above the bottom 25 of the transfer member, said bottom is provided with a plurality of 4 upwardly directed bosses or rises 33 which support the dropped down plate in such a manner as to insure its positive movement to an underlying relation to the pack 20 when said dropped down plate is engaged by the end wall 25 of the transfer member during its inward movement.

Said inclined lip 32 is shown provided with two arcuate cut-outs or notches 35 (see Figs. 3 and 8) which afford clearances through which the two pairs of bosses 33 pass during the inward move ment of the transfer member.

In longitudinal alinement with each pair of adjacent bosses 33 in the bottom 24 of the transfer member, the base plate it has a spacious cut-out 31 leading inwardly from its end edge (see Figs. 2 and 9). These four cut-outs afford clear paths for said bosses 33 during the reciprocatory movement of the transfer member.

In Fig. 1 is included an elongated channel shaped mounting member .5 of the kind which is commonly used as a mounting means for price tags placed upon merchandise. Said mounting member is provided along each side edge with a forwardly directed, inwardly bent flange 45. In order to adapt the device which forms the subject matter of the present invention to be mounted upon said member 35, the base plate IQ of said device is provided with a transversely directed, triangular wing or plate :2! which extends out nearly to one side edge of said base plate, and with a wire latch spring which extends out to its opposite side. One apex portion of said wing ll is shown secured to the central part of said base plate by means of a weld l'i. Said wire spring 48 has an inner end portion 58 also secured to the base plate by means of said weld. The opposite end portion of said wire is formed by a straight limb 5!, the outer end portion of which is manually accessible to the operator when the device is in the mounted position upon the member 45, shown in Fig. 1. Between its said end portions 58 and 5! said wire is provided with a loop portion 52 which adds to its resiliency. At the juncture of said loop with the aforesaid straight run 5! there is a latching part 53 in the wire, and, when the device is applied to the channel member 45 said part underlies one of the flanges 46 of said member while the outer straight edge of the aforesaid triangular wing Lil underlies the opposite flange 48. In removing the device from said member :15 the operator will first press a finger or thumb against the outer end of said wire run 5| in a manner to spring the wire part 53 out from under the flange it at that side of the member l5, thus releasing the device from said member. The device will be replaced by a reverse operation,

The applied device may be moved along the member 45 in one direction to the desired position thereon, this movement, when desired, being continued until the device is completely freed from said member. But the device cannot be moved in the direction which would cause the outer end of the wire run 5! to dig into the face of the member 45. Or, if desired, the wire member may be provided with free end portions so positioned as to prevent movement of the applied device toward either end of the channel member 55, thus guarding against its unauthorized removal by children.

It is to be understood that two or more of these devices may be mounted alongside of each other upon the channel member 45 so that they will cooperate to display price indicating amounts roquiring three or more numerals. It will now be readily understood that, by using twin packs of plates wherein the plates of each pack are consecutively numbered from 0 to 9 the operator may quickly operate the device in such a manner as to bring into view and proper association the two desired price indicating numerals. It is also obvious that trays may be made each containing a single pack holding compartment, and a considerable number of such trays may be assembled upon a channel member 65.

The various parts of the device, except the numeral bearing plates will desirably be made of sheet metal, but some plastic substance may be preferred for said plates.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a tray having a horizontally directed end which is at least partly open, each of opposite sides of said tray forming a rail parallel to that at its opposite side, a pack of horizontally extending plates contained in said tray and spanning the width thereof, a manually operable reciprocatory transfer member having sheet metal side portions which slidably engage and travel along said rails, said member having an inward and an outward horizontal movement in relation to said tray, said member carrying along each side an inwardly directed top flange a part of which is downwardly deflected thus forming shoulder elements which, at the inward limit of the travel of said transfer member engage the uppermost plate of said pack and during the outward movement of said member move the engaged plate horizontally out of said open end of said tray until it clears the remaining plates of the pack and then drops down to a level below the lowest plate of the pack, said member having a portion which engages the dropped down plate and during the inward movement of said member forces said plate back under the remaining plates of the pack.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, and said tray having a floor portion with a downwardly inclined end edge portion positioned to guide said dropped down plate into an underlying relation to the pack forming plates when said dropped down plate is acted upon by said transfer member during the inward movement of the latter.

3. In a device of the kind described, a substantially rectangular tray made of rigid sheet material and having upstanding side walls, a rise forming member spanning the space between the midlength portion of said side walls, said member dividing said tray into two compartments each adapted to have fitted loosely into it a pack of superimposed plates, and two transfer members, one of said transfer members being in a cooperative relation to one of said compartments and the other in a cooperative relation to the other compartment, each of said transfer members having a reciprocatory horizontal movement toward and from the aforesaid rise forming members, and shoulders carried by said transfer members which at the inward limits of their travel are positioned to engage the uppermost of said plates in packs in said compartments and during the outward movement of said transfer members move each engaged plate away from its compartment until the plate clears the compartment and then drops down to approximately the level of the bottom of the tray, and guide means carried by the tray to direct each dropped down plate into an underlying relation to the compartment adjacent to it, a part of each of said transfer members being positioned to engage the plate which it drops down and then move it across said guide means to an underlying relation to the adjacent pack of plates during the inward movement of the transfer member.

4. In a device of the kind described, a substantially rectangular tray of rigid sheet material having upstanding side walls, said tray having a compartment adapted to have fitted loosely into it a pack of superimposed plates, and a transfer member in a slidable, cooperative relation to an end portion of said tray, said transfer member having side walls and a reciprocatory horizontal movement toward and from a position wherein its side walls substantially completely embrace the side Walls of said compartment of said tray, said side walls of said transfer member being made of sheet metal and having inwardly directed top flanges which, inwardly of the upper portions of the side walls of said tray are each provided with a downwardly directed ear positioned at the inward movement of said transfer member to engage in an edgewise manner the uppermost plate of a pack of plates in said compartment and during the outward movement of said transfer member move said plate away from the remaining plates of the pack until it clears the pack and then moves to the bottom of the tray, and guide means carried by the tray to direct the plate after moving as aforesaid, into an underlying relation to the remaining plates of the pack, a part of said transfer member being positioned to engage said plate and then move it into the aforesaid underlying relation to the pack,

5. The subject matter of claim 4, and said side walls of said tray each having an inwardly directed lip along its upper edge which is of less width than the adjacent said flange of the transfer member, said ear of the latter flange being lo- France June 3, 1929 

